Forms: 4 enrolly, 6–7 enroule, (7 enrowle), 5– enrol(l; also 5–8 inrol(l, (7 inrowle). [ME. enrolly, ad. OF. enroll-er, (mod.F. enrôler), f. en (see EN-1) + OF. rolle, roolle (mod. rôle) ROLL.]
I. To write upon a roll.
1. trans. To write (a name), inscribe the name of (a person) on a roll, list or register; to make a list of. Also † To enrol up.
c. 1350. Usages Winchester, in Eng. Gilds, 359. Euerych soutere … shal … þe clerke a peny for to enrolly hys name.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 938. I, iwus, Endeuoure me Yowr name to se It be enrolde Writtin with golde.
1572. T. Cartwright, in Whitgift, Answ. Cartwright, 91. Their Names written and enrouled vp.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., p. xc. Our Sea-men and their numbers were carefully enroll’d.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Elegies, XIII. 19. Myriads, in time’s perennial list inroll’d.
1777. Watson, Philip III. (1839), 93. The soldiers … were emulous to have their names enrolled for that dangerous service.
1846. M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), I. 595. Many also of the menial servants … are enrolled in the official returns in other classes.
2. To place upon a list; to incorporate as a registered or acknowledged member (in a society, corporate body, etc.). Also fig.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. ii. 119. This man … was enrold ’mongst wonders.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1830, I. 351. To be deemed considerable in this faculty, and enrolled among the wittes.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), I. 27/1. When more were enroled in their body, [they were called] Conscript Fathers.
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., I. 233. I now determined … to enrol myself in the fraternity of authorship.
1877. Mrs. Oliphant, Makers Flor., ii. 33. They were permitted to enrol themselves in any guild or art.
3. esp. To place on the list of an army; to enlist, incorporate in the ranks of an army; to levy (an army). Also refl. to enlist, take service.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 77. If he had not … enrolled, and mustered an armie of tried souldiours.
1611. Bible, 1 Macc. x. 36. There be enrolled amongst the kings forces about thirtie thousand men of the Iewes.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxi. 112. He that inrowleth himselfe a Souldier.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xxxi. 109. In Asia any man that is rich is forced to enrol himself a janisary.
1798. Malthus, Popul. (1878), 173. Those who are … tempted to enrol themselves as soldiers.
1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. ii. 77. They were enrolled as guards to the Caliph.
† 4. To write (an agreement, deed, obligation, etc.) upon a roll or parchment; to engross, give legal form to. Obs.
Most of the instances may possibly belong to sense 5.
c. 1430. Lydg., Story Thebes, 1141. Thaccord enrolled in the toune.
1458. Lease, in Ld. Campbell, Chancellors (1857), I. xxii. 322. My dede enrolled and subscribed with myne owne hande.
1531–2. Act 23 Hen. VIII., c. 6 § 5. The saide person so to be assigned … to write make and enroll suche obligacions.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., I. i. 38. Which I hope well is not enrolled there.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 309 b. By Deed indented and inrolled according to the Statute.
5. To enter among the rolls, i.e., upon the records of a court of justice.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 38. Pream., Indentures … inrolled in your Courte of the Chauncery of recorde.
1592. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. xv. 278. Euerie Maister shall enrolle the Indentures of his aprentice in the comon clarkes office.
1660. Mrq. Worc., in Dircks, Life, xiv. (1865), 229. Having this Commission inrolled or assented unto by his Council.
1818. Cruise, Digest, IV. 230. Where the deed was directed to be enrolled in a particular court, it must be enrolled in that court.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xviii. 263. By which time … the really important petitions … were enrolled.
6. To record, lit. and fig.; also, to record with honor, celebrate.
1530. Palsgr., 357/1. I enrolle, I fyxe a thynge in my mynde.
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wares, III. xxi. Be it enrold … how firm thy courage stood.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Praise, vii. Small it is, in this poore sort To enroll thee.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., II. iii. (1851), 157. It had bin long agoe enroul’d to be nothing els but a pure tyrannical forgery.
1737. Pope, Hor. Epist., II. i. 373. Dubb’d historians by express command To enrol your triumphs o’er the seas and land.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., VIII. 48. He … in heav’n’s register inrolls, The rise, and progress, of each option there.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xliii. So that still garden of the souls In many a figured leaf enrolls The total world.
II. To form into a roll.
7. a. To form into rolls or coils. b. To wrap up or enfold in or with; also transf. and fig.
1530. Palsgr., 537/1. I enrolle, I rolle up a writyng, or any other thing rounde.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., II. iii. Bullets … Enroll’d in flames and fiery smouldering mists.
1591. Spenser, Virgil’s Gnat, 257. [A snake] Now more and more hauing himselfe enrolde. Ibid. (1596), F. Q., IV. iii. 41. Great heapes of them, like sheepe in narrow fold For hast did over-runne, in dust enrould.
c. 1630. Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Wks. 5/2. Nor snow of cheeks with Tyrian grain enrol’d.
1659. C. Noble, Moderate Answ. Immod. Queries, 2. Wherein their own welfares and concerns were inrolled and bound up.
1694. Addison, Ovid’s Met., Wks. 1726, I. 196. Now in a maze of rings he lies enrowl’d.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 158. The folding reefs in plaits inroll’d they lay.
1836. G. S. Faber, Answ. Husenbeth, 17. Folds in which the small limbs of the Refutation itself have been … enrolled.
Hence Enrolled ppl. a. (sense 2).
1840. G. S. Faber, Regeneration, 234. Her acknowledged, and enrolled, and accredited members.
1853. Stocqueler, Mil Encycl., Enrolled Pensioners, the out-pensioners of Chelsea Hospital, who are formed into companies for garrison and colonial duty.
Mod. The society has a thousand enrolled members.
